Audrey knew she was being influenced by some extraordinary force affecting her mind and spirit. It was only thanks to the "angel's blessing" provided by Mr. The Fool that she had miraculously escaped this state. Therefore, she decided to reveal a few private matters—exposing small secrets to distract and mislead her counterpart, while concealing the more crucial elements, and in doing so, build greater trust. She wasn't doubting the angels; rather, she felt she could observe the others, and they could observe her as well. Though she had always remained in the background, not regarded as exceptional, appearing ordinary would naturally avoid suspicion. Still, she wished to place greater emphasis on the members of the Psychological Alchemy Circle, since they were professionals, while she herself only partially belonged to this circle, lacking both experience and depth—she might well have certain unapparent weaknesses that had not yet come to her own awareness. Given that, it was now a good opportunity to "come clean" and fully alleviate the concerns of certain members of the Circle. — She refers to the act of the angels descending and enveloping themselves in layers of wings as "blessing." Upon hearing Audrey's response, both Islanth and Hampres briefly expressed surprise, pausing for a moment as if questioning their own abilities. Hilbert, however, merely smiled gently at the corner of his mouth, showing no unusual reaction. He nodded with satisfaction, his voice soft: "Your honesty is commendable. "Are there any other matters you'd like to share?" Audrey shook her head, feigning a moment of mental drift: "No." Hilbert thought for a moment and asked a few more questions: "Where did you acquire the 'audience' recipe? From which exceptional gatherer? And where did you source the ingredients for your potions?" Audrey's eyes flickered with recollection, as if drawing on memories: "That exceptional gathering must remain confidential." "I can't see what the man who sells the 'audience' potion looks like, but from his words and manner, I can tell he is a devoted follower of the Lord of the Storm." Hearing this, Hildbert nodded slightly, as if remembering something. Audrey continued: "Most of the ingredients for my 'audience' potion come from my family's storeroom; the rest are exchanged with a few friends." She silently added: "Two batches of the 'audience' potion..." Most of them came from her own storeroom... Hildbert, Islandt, and Hampres chewed on these words, momentarily at a loss for words. After a few seconds, Hildbert nodded to Islandt and Hampres, indicating he was all right. Receiving the same signal, the faint golden hue in his eyes quickly faded, and the vertical pupils in his gaze gradually softened. Hildbert then adjusted the wick of the candle, causing the flame to flicker gently. In the sudden shift between light and shadow, Audrey found the strange force affecting her abruptly vanish. She steadied her dazed expression, adopting a look of curiosity and inquiry. "I didn't expect you to already be an 'observer,'" Hilbert chuckled. "Ah?" Audrey promptly displayed her astonishment and agitation. Knowing what emotional responses were appropriate in different situations, and what specific facial expressions and bodily gestures matched each emotion, was a fundamental skill of a 'mind-reader.' Hilbert smiled gently. "Don't worry—we're not at all concerned about this. That was the final assessment. Congratulations! You've passed all the trials. From now on, you are an official member of the Psychological Alchemy Guild." "Well…" Audrey hesitated, then smiled. "It feels like I've just woken up from a dream." She then rose, gracefully adjusting her skirt, and bowed lightly to Hilbert and the others, her smile warm and bright. "Now, we are truly companions." "A young lady of noble birth, radiantly graceful, so polite, immediately made Islanter and the others feel compelled to rise and return the courtesy. After both sides had settled back into their seats, Hilbert organized his thoughts and said, 'Madam Audrey, I now formally introduce you to the psychological Alchemy Society.' 'Very well,' Audrey smiled gently, 'I'll simply be called Audrey.' Hilbert nodded, leaned back, lifted his right leg, and crossed his hands. 'The psychological Alchemy Society began as a gathering of enthusiasts who all believed the mind possessed infinite power and wonder. 'Later, the group discovered a map leading to a hidden site left behind by Hermes.' 'Hermes' writings, you mean, Hermes?' Audrey asked with genuine interest." "Yes, he was one of the earliest mystic masters of humanity. The ancient Hermes language he created possesses a magical resonance that directly connects with natural forces. He was active during the Dark Second Age, when humanity was merely a servant and slave to the giants." Hilbert said with deep reverence. "The initial members of the Psychological Alchemy Circle discovered many things in the ruins, revealing that Hermes was a master of mysticism in the realm of the mind. His primary subject was the great dragons ruling the skies during the Second Age—more precisely, the dragons of the Mind Race." "His records indicate that the Mind dragons have achieved remarkable progress in this domain, reaching a level equivalent to that of deities." "I know," Audrey thought with a touch of pride. "The 'Imaginary Dragon' Angerwid is itself a primordial god." Hilbert sighed, "These records have laid the foundation and established the direction of our research at the Psychological Alchemy Circle." "We believe the mind holds many secrets, each nestled deep within, elusive and hard to grasp. Please forgive me for using the word 'deep,' as I find it most fitting. 'The pursuit of these secrets demands carefulness; even a slight misstep may cause irreparable harm to the mind itself, Audrey. You must bear this in mind.' After Audrey nodded, he continued: 'If we come to understand the mind's mysteries, we shall be able to tap into the hidden powers residing deep within consciousness, accomplishing many wonders, and also influence or even shape the minds of others. 'Once we reach this level, ahead lies an ocean of collective unconsciousness—the place we most aspire to. Of course, the term 'collective unconscious' is not entirely precise; I prefer to call it the world of minds across all living beings, a realm that holds subtle and wondrous connections with the spirit world.' " "If we can master this inner world, what extraordinary abilities would we gain?" Audrey适时 expressed her curiosity and acknowledged her limited understanding in this area. Hilbert smiled and said: "You should have noticed some remarkable phenomena in the real world—when we desire a particular object, it appears exactly when we need it; when we wish to visit a friend, he knocks on our door at just the right moment; when we yearn for something to happen, it unfolds precisely at that very instant. "You might call these coincidences, but sometimes there are so many of them that our research suggests these occurrences often stem from unconscious, magical mental influences. "When you master this inner world—the ocean formed by the collective unconscious—you will master 'coincidences,' transforming the occasional, wondrous events into resonances within your own mind. You will be able to summon them at will." "That's truly astonishing." Audrey had heard "Sol" mention the terrifying tales of the "Dragon of Dreams" before, but his explanation was far less detailed than Hilbert's. Hilbert chuckled lightly and said, "At our level, it's probably better not to delve into such profound matters—otherwise, we risk getting lost. I'll now introduce you to the Psychological Alchemy Circle. The discovery of the ruins marks the foundation of the organization. Initially, the members hoped to maintain their simple, scholarly discussions. However, as they encountered challenges, they invariably needed assistance—especially when lacking supplies or research materials. Gradually, the Circle developed formal regulations and evolved into a true secret organization. "Yet, compared to other secret organizations, our structure and relationships remain notably loose." "That's precisely what I appreciate," Audrey remarked. After outlining the main regulations, Hilbert concluded, "Once you reach a higher level, you'll have the opportunity to meet the other members. Now, I'll give you the potion for Sequence 8—the 'Mind-Reader'." "Indeed, we've prepared the 'Mind-Reader' potion..." Audrey felt both relieved and proud. Upon seeing the shimmering, enchanting potion, she hesitated and said, "I'd like to go back and take it again." Still a bit uncertain, wanting to verify... Hilbert picked up Audrey's thoughts and smiled, responding, "Very well. With your performance, drinking the 'Mind-Reader' potion should pose no issue." Audrey beamed, thanked them, and then asked, "Could you share the recipe for the 'Psychiatrist's' potion with me? I'd like to gather the materials in advance so as not to waste time." ...After all, wouldn't anyone join the Psychological Alchemy Guild primarily to secure access to the corresponding exceptional materials through the organization? How could anyone casually say they'd like to collect materials themselves beforehand without any concern? Hilbert, Hampres, and the others, gazing at the composed young woman, found themselves momentarily at a loss for words. After a few seconds, Hilbert managed a weak smile and said, "I'll go ahead and apply for it for you. Normally, this requires merit, which comes from the tasks assigned to us, your research contributions, and the new materials and items we gather." "Of course, I'll make an effort," Audrey said brightly. Klein was invited to share breakfast, with Kaslanara joining him. After taking a bite of the soft potato pancakes, Klein praised, "Mr. Stanton, your cooking is excellent." The elder of Esgaroth, with silvering hair, smiled and said, "This is a specialty from Lumborg. For the exceptional ones of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom, versatility is a shared trait—those in the sixth tier are known as 'Scholars.' The corresponding potion tends to be quite overwhelming, and until now, I have not yet managed to secure my promotion."